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Encouraging Quotes

With the loss of the puppies this week, I have been receiving many kind notes. Several of the notes that great quotes that I needed to share with my fellow kind-hearted rescuers and rescue supporters.

It Came to me that every time I lose a dog, they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." - Cheryl Zuccaro -

Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway. -- John Wayne

I sent you away from this world of pain not because I didn't love you but because I loved you too much to make you stay. -- Unknown

Those who do not know how to weep with their whole heart don't know how to laugh either. -- Golda Meir

Imperfect (quote by Charlotte Schwartz)

"For perhaps, if the truth were known, we're all a little blind, a little deaf, a little handicapped, a little lonely, a little less than perfect. And if we can learn to appreciate and utilize the dog's full potentials, we will, together, make it in this life on earth." - Charlotte Schwartz

I rescue because? - Jenn U

I rescue because?
He can't tell you he deserves better
And if he could? he wouldn't.
He loves you despite all the reasons
you gave him not to.

I rescue because?
She doesn't have a voice to ask for basic needs
like food, medical care, and love.
For her, your best is good enough
even when it isn't.

I rescue because?
Dogs know when they've been saved
when they sleep in a warm house on a soft blanket
when they have laps to snuggle into
when their limping gets immediate and thorough attention
They pay back tenfold with devotion never wavering
and eyes truer than the sky is blue.

I rescue because?
A dog is a better human than I am
even though dogs are not human
because they love without expectation of return,
accept others readily
live in the moment,
and behave genuinely in all circles.

I rescue because?
I am a better human when I'm with dogs
and the people I've met through rescue
are the best humans I've ever known.

The Path Home

The Path Home

You cower and you cringe, pressing up against the wall.You tremble and your food dish has not been touched at all.Every time a human passes, you cringe further “Don’t look at me.”Someone might come and hit you, and there’s nowhere for you to flee.

Human faces look into your dark dingy prison cell.You look away, don’t meet their eyes, they might cuss and scream and yell. A ringing sound, the warden answers, a pause, then he looks up.His eyes land upon you. “Yes, we still have that pup.”

He nods and listens, “Yes she is, a purebred too I bet. Her owner dumped her in the night, freezing, and soaking wet.She’s got the cough, you know the one, that wracks her body through.What’s that? Okay, you’ll take her? We’ll hold this dog for you.”

He hangs up then he looks at you, points his finger, and smiles.“It seems you got a break today, someone thinks your worthwhile.Someone many miles away, is gonna save your furry ass.”He chuckles, then he shudders, knowing you escaped the gas.

The next day a woman enters, and is led to your cell door.“That’s her” he says. “The little one, cell number fifty four.”She squints her eyes against the dark, then lets out a little cry.How could someone leave you here, knowing you would die?

Quickly she opens up the door, you yelp, try to escape…there’s nowhere left for you to go, you’re trapped within this cage.You close your eyes, await the pain, await the blows to fall.They never come, it’s quiet as you cringe against the wall.

A soft voice whispers, “It’s okay. There’s no more pain for you.You’re on your way to freedom, your suffering is through.”She slips a rope around your neck, then lifts you in her arms.She cradles and she kisses you, her touch feels oh, so warm!

This angel takes you home with her, gives you food, a nice clean bed.She sings, and takes you out for walks, and strokes your silky head.One day she takes you for a drive, she smiles, “It’s time to go.You’re on your way to a new life, where you can learn and grow.”

She stops the car, and picks you up, one last kiss on your head.A teary smile, a fond farewell, your heart is filled with dread.Someone new now holds your leash, a man you never met!He lifts you up into his car, “Hey girl! Are you all set?”

He drives and drives, till once again, you stop and someone newtakes your leash and thanks the man, and says hello to you.She pats your head, and whistling, puts you in the car.In the back are two more dogs, they too, have come quite far.

You meet more people, ride in their cars, and sometimes meet their kids.No longer scared, just worried, and wondering a bit.One kind lady takes you home, feeds you and puts you to bed.“You rest my girl, there’s far more hours of traveling ahead.”

Another day, more changing hands, strangers cuddle you.They hold your paw, look in your eyes, “Gee, you are a beaut!”Then finally the trip is done, a woman and a mantake you to a nice warm house, that smells like love and….HAM!

A lady with sparkling blue eyes, long grey hair and smiling facesays “Hi there little one! Welcome to our place!”Three dogs come out that look like you, long hair, all black and white!They wag their tails in greeting, they’re friendly and polite.

Grey Hair and her husband feed you ham for treats that night, and over the days and weeks they give you love and light. Children come to this place, they play with you and laugh at all your silly antics like when you escaped the bath!

You like it here, you feel secure, this is warmest home,they never hit, they never scream, you never feel alone.But this is not your staying place, forever waits for you…a family with an empty heart arrives as if on cue.

They come into your foster home, they look at you and smile.“Oh Mom and Dad! Look at her!” cries their excited child.“She’s beautiful! Look, see her scars? Someone hurt her there!Oh PLEASE can we take her home with us, and show her that we care?”

Grey Lady watches wistfully out the window as you leave.You don’t see the single tear that traces down her cheek.Your child clutches onto you, your wagging tail held high.“Farewell my friend, take care of them, enjoy your brand new life.”

When you say to an animal shelter or humane society employee "I could never do your job, it would break my heart, I love animals too much" or words to that effect, it sounds like you are saying:

-- That we don't also love animals, even though we've taken minimum wage (or no wage) jobs in order to work with homeless animals. For many of us it is our life's work.

-- That we, somehow, don't get our hearts broken.

-- That in order to do this job one has to be either cold hearted or an animal hater.

Your declaration leaves us with some questions.

If you can't do this job, who will? Someone must.

When we've euthanized the 500th kitten for the month, because there are no homes available, will you take the 501st? Our hearts are completely torn out and we just can't kill one more. You already have enough pets? We understand, we do too. Our cages are over capacity, our foster homes are all full. Do you have a solution? If so, please tell us, we hate this part of the job. Right now, at this moment, there is a dog or cat in a shelter employee's arms and there is no where on earth for this creature to go. There is no cage space, no foster home, no forever home. Nowhere. It is a heartbreaking feeling.

There is a really nice yellow lab mix named Jake. He's 3 years old, healthy, housebroken, loves kids, loves everyone! But, he can't find a home because he's quite generic looking, he's not real flashy and he's not a puppy ("I want a dog to grow up with the kids"). We've had him here for 3 months, but can no longer justify taking up valuable cage space for a dog that's showing no signs of becoming adopted. What would you do? There are 10 dogs that came in today. We have two open runs. Who has to die? Walking through the kennel, having to choose which ones have no more time is the worst part. It breaks our hearts. If you know of a way to keep Jake alive and still be fair to the other animals, please tell us. We've grown so attached -- it's our hearts again you know -- they're breaking into a million pieces this time.

Will you talk to the woman who brings in a blind, 10 yr. old peek-a-poo with bad skin and says "Don't kill her! Find her a good home!"? Oh puhleeeeeeze. We can't find homes for the healthy 1 year olds; who's going to adopt a 10 year old, unhealthy dog? You? Me neither. I already have four dogs that were considered unadoptable. Because this owner won't face reality and allow us to euthanize right away, the dog has to spend her last 24 hours on earth in a holding cage, wondering what happened. But, we held her as often as we could and tried to comfort her because you can't. It would break your heart. "Wait!" you say, "Someone might want her!" It's quite unlikely that there is someone that wants an elderly dog that needs a few hundred dollars worth of veterinary care. Our crystal ball is broken, but if you think she can find a home and you want to save her please go back to the kennel and pick which young, healthy dog has to give up its space here.

OK. You can't work at a animal shelter. Not everyone can. Can you help in other ways? Can you buy us a bag of food when you buy for your own pet? Can you come in and talk to the cats? Walk the dogs? We are so busy running the place that we often don't have time. When you come back next week we won't tell you the final disposition of your favorite one if you don't want to know. We are, after all, a compassionate group and we understand about broken hearts. Could you go to your friend or neighbor and offer to get their pet spayed/neutered? Tell your friend about us and how we get our hearts broken every day. Could you trap one of those stray cats in your neighborhood and get it vaccinated and neutered? That will be one more free-roaming cat that's out of the reproduction loop.

Maybe you could send a small check to say "Thank you". Anything at all would help.

I know you mean well. I know you mean to say "I couldn't work here because my own emotions get in the way of doing what has to be done for the animals, thank you for doing it."

I'm a forever dog, not an 'until' dog.
I'm not an 'until you get bored with me' dog.
I'm not an "until" you find a girlfriend dog.
I'm not an "until" you have a baby' dog.
I'm not an "until you have to move' dog.
I'm a forever dog.

~ Dolly Fraser

(P.S. I am double-checking on the author. Not confirmed at this point. - EL)

A few days ago I went though all the posted ACDs on Petfinder and found a few in the Medina, OH county pound. My browser crashed when looking up their profiles on Petfinder. When I went back to getting them posted (a couple days later), I noticed that every single one had their status changed from "adoptable" to "adopted." It's nice not to be needed

I wish someone would tell me,
What it is that I've done wrong.
Why I have to stay chained up,
And left alone so long.
They seemed so glad to have me,
When I came here as a pup.
There were so many things we'd do,
While I was growing up.
They couldn't wait to train me,
As companion and as friend.
They told me I would never fear,
Being left alone again.
The children said they'd feed me,
Said they'd brush me every day.
They'd play with me and walk me,
If only I could stay.
But now the family hasn't time,
They often say I shed.
They won't allow me in the house,
Not even to be fed.
The children never walk me,
They always say "Not now!"
I wish that I could please them,
Won't someone tell me how?
All I have is love, you see,
I wish they would explain.
Why they said they wanted me,
Then left me on a chain.

Her name is Dixie. She's located in Hazard County, Kentucky. As obvious, she's a hound.

In my over-active imagination, she has been adopted by two cousins who drive an orange Charger whose horn plays dixie. They have a attractive female cousin who regularly wears questionably revealing outfits. Her life will be filled with adventures foiling the plans of corrupt local politicians and evading inept local law enforcement.